OPEN EYE MAINSTAGE
FIRE IN MY VEINS is part of Open Eye Theatre’s partnership with Kevin Kling and Company to feature exceptional storytellers whose voices are underrepresented in the community.
Written & Performed by Allison Broeren
Hosted by Kevin Kling
March 16 – 19
Living with a chronic illness is hard, horrifying, and honestly, sometimes hilarious. In FIRE IN MY VEINS, storyteller Allison Broeren takes you on the romp of living life with a rare autoimmune disease. Almost 20 years after her initial diagnosis, she thinks she has it figured out…then a pandemic hits, and her chemo tries to kill her, so – back to the drawing board!
In 2004 Allison spent 10 months getting progressively sicker, until she was admitted into the ICU paralyzed, and in isolation. Much closer to death than life, she was finally diagnosed with a rare autoimmune vasculitis disease, Wegener’s Granulomatosis. This started a journey of chemo, steroids and the years-long healing process and a new life of navigating work, insurance, friendships, and dating with chronic illness.
Over the last 20 years a lot has changed in the acceptance of invisible illnesses in the mainstream conversation and Allison is delighted to share the good, the bad, the ugly, and the amazing job some chemos do of bikini waxing, while sharing her journey.
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TICKETS
$22 – General Admission
$15 – Students
$10 – Economic AccessibilityA limited number of $10 Economic Accessibility tickets are available online for all performances. If not sold out, a limited number of pay as able tickets will be available at the door. View our ticketing policy.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: All ages
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PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 16, 7:30pm
Friday, March 17, 7:30pm
Saturday, March 18, 7:30pm
Sunday, March 19, 2:00pm**ASL Interpretation
RUN TIME: 60 minutes
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ACCESSIBILITY
Contact us at boxoffice@openeyetheatre.org or 612-874-6338 for accessibility information and requests.
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COVID PRECAUTIONS
We are requiring that audience members and staff wear face masks in the theatre for this production. Masks must securely cover the nose and mouth and will be made available for those who arrive without them. We greatly appreciate your compliance with this policy and thank you for helping to ensure that the show will go on!
About the Artist
Allison Broeren
Allison Broeren is the Co-Director of Strike Theater in Northeast Minneapolis. She has organized and performed in 50-70 shows a year since 2006 in the Twin Cities. Allison has been heard on the Moth Main Stage, MPR, The MN Book Awards, MN Fringe Festival, KFAI, The Tour de Fat MainStage, political fundraisers, local block parties, and coffee tables all through the land.
In 2015 she was selected to co-lead 50 MPR listeners on a storytelling trip through Greece lead by Kevin Kling. The City Pages (RIP) had named her an artist to watch and awarded her Best Spoken Word Event. The Pioneer Press named her shows the Best Performance Opportunity in Minnesota. She was awarded Changemaker of the Year for her work on the Women of the World Poetry Slam. Allison loves a great story–both sharing and listening–and is so excited for her debut at Open Eye Theatre!
“I think the biggest compliment I’ve ever received was that my General Practitioner came to my first show about being sick and told me it changed the way she would practice medicine. I truly believe storytelling can change the world and sharing our personal stories is the best way to remember that we’re all more similar than we are different.”
– Allison Broeren
About the Host
Kevin Kling
A long-time performer at Open Eye, Kevin Kling is known for his hilarious recounts of true events on NPR's All Things Considered. Kling's autobiographical tales are as enchanting as they are true to life: hopping freight trains, getting hit by lightning, performing his banned play in Czechoslovakia, growing up in Minnesota, and eating things before knowing what they are. He has performed regularly at Open Eye, including GREATEST HITS & JUICY BITS, CHICKEN SHIP, TENDER MERCIES, FOUR DIRECTIONS, and many more. Read more about Kevin at kevinkling.com.
“I met Allison when we traveled to Greece on an amazing trip with MPR. She changed me and every one of our fellow travelers. You’ll see why if you are lucky enough to experience her storytelling. Like Virgil, she not only leads us into the nooks and shadows, but is on the journey with us. We are guided through her profound insights as her humor lights the way. And best of all we find solace in the mysteries that lie in ourselves, family and community.”
– Kevin Kling
Visit Open Eye Theatre
506 E. 24th Street
Minneapolis, MN
Free parking is available in the lot on the southeast corner of 24th Street and Portland Avenue, courtesy of Lutheran Social Services.